Last year at this time I started researching homeschooling for my kids. I found this awesome umbrella school, HomeLife Christian Academy and learned about local Co-ops that I could join that would provide my kids with opportunities to take certain classes in a class room setting, support from other homeschool families, field trips and other events they could attend.
If you would have asked me a couple of years ago if I was going to homeschool or had considered it, my answer was a bit fat NO! Mainly because I didn't feel like I was smart enough to teach my children, I didn't want to take on that responsibility, and I have fond memories of going to school that I wanted my kids to have.
But, the more I learned about homeschool the more interested and excited I got. I was excited that I could teach my own kids and how awesome it would feel to know that I taught them how to read, write, add, and subtract. I was excited that I would have control over their curriculum and what they were learning.
After a few months of research, David and I settled on the decision the we would homeschool! Just to be clear on both sides of this topic these are the reasons we came to this decision:
1) Most homeschool kids actually test 1 to 2 grades higher than what grade they are actually in. This is because they are not held to the states standard and pace at which they learn and can move on once they have mastered a certain level. This also helps to keep learning exciting because they don't get bored.
2) Homeschool is MUCH more flexible. For example, we could spend the entire "school day" outside enjoying God's beauty. We can do homeschool anywhere! If we decide we want to go on vacation we don't have to wait until a scheduled break. We can just take our books with us. This will also be beneficial if we get more involved in mission work.
3) A "school day" for a homeschooler is only about 4 hours a day.
4) We can sleep in!!!! This is the best reason yet.....don't ya think?!!! We can get up at 9:00 and start school and be done by 1:00 AND do school in our pajamas if we want to!
5) I don't have to worry so much about my kids being exposed to things before I am ready to expose them...... bullying, sex, foul language, etc.... (For example, my brother learned the f word in kindergarten). I want them to just be kids for as long as possible. I don't want them to be completely sheltered from the brokenness of this world but at the same time I want them to learn certain things when I see fit.
6) I can incorporate a daily Bible study in their school day and make God apart of their schooling all together.
7) Most importantly, we came to this decision because we have felt called by God to do so.
Until about a month ago we were 100% sure we were homeschooling. I even registered Austin already for HomeLife Christian Academy. But, a few things have happened that have made us question whether or not it is the best decision.
At church our pastor has been preaching verse by verse through the book of Mark. Actually it was back in March that I had my first uncertain moment about homeschool during one of the sermons on Mark. Our leadership pastor, Daniel, preached that particular Sunday. He preached from the scripture in Mark 2:13-17 when Jesus called the tax collector, Levi, to follow him. Daniel mentioned the part in the scripture where Jesus went into the home of Levi and ate with the sinners and tax collectors. Jesus was harshly ridiculed for this. Ridiculed for being a friend of sinners. But in verse 17 Jesus says, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."
So what does that have to do with homeschool? Well Daniel said during this sermon, "Stop trying to shelter your kids. God has commissioned our children to be light in the world. You've got to send them out. Teach them how to be a friend of sinners and get in their world. Take them with you and model it." By homeschooling Austin this coming August am I denying the world the light he has to shine into their darkness?
I soon placed this doubt I all of a sudden had in the back of my mind because we had already made our decision and God had called us to homeschool (I guess.... I'm still not certain).
Then about a month or so ago one day in the kitchen while I was making the kids breakfast Austin says to me out of the blue, "Mommy, I want to go to school." Up until this point he has always said he wanted me to teach him at home. So you can imagine my surprise. I asked him why and he said he just wanted to. I said, "So you don't want Mommy to teach you at home" and he simply said, "No." At this point I had already registered him for homeschool and bought 75% of his curriculum.
I have always said that if at any point either one of them want to go to school I would not deny them that choice. But he is only 5 & actually if I asked him today if he wants to go to school or be homeschooled he says homeschooled because they have nasty food at school and some kids might be mean to him. So I can't really leave this big decision up to him but I do seriously consider his desires. This brought doubt to my mind once again. I immediately remembered Daniel's sermon.
Just a couple of days ago I started thinking about it again and really questioning myself. Am I choosing homeschool because of fear of what public school will bring to my kids, am I sheltering them, am I denying the world of this awesome 5 year old that is so giving and genuinely a great kid that loves to talk and learn about Jesus? Don't our public schools need little missionaries to infiltrate them and spread the good news that our world so desperately needs to hear? I want my kids to experience the brokenness of this world so they can learn how to live and thrive in it and trust the Lord no matter what. They need to know whats out there. Will they truly know when all they know outside of our home is a Co-op that meets at a church and is made up of other christians and at church where christians gather? Where exactly would they be exposed to children that aren't taught the love of Christ?
David has always been open to what I want to do because he knows it is a
major commitment on my part but doubt has started to fill his mind as
well. I brought it up to him in the car the other day and he said he had been thinking about it too. His boss had told him about this kid that said he learned about Jesus through another kid at school. I wondered then if maybe it was Satan trying to persuade us to homeschool because he knows what Austin is capable of and he doesn't want him out in the world being a friend to sinners like Jesus was in Mark. Or maybe Satan is casting doubt on our plans to homeschool? It is safe to say, we are so confused!
At this point we have no clear decision and honestly a couple of months ago I never imagined we would be in this position. We were so certain. But we just want to do what God wants us to do no matter what that looks like. We put our yes on the table! I don't want to homeschool out of fear of what they might learn or be exposed to. I want to homeschool if the Lord is truly leading us to that for whatever reasons He has. But if God is calling us to send Austin to school to be a missionary then we are ready to set our fears aside and let the Lord take care of him as he takes his light into our dark world.
No matter what God ends up leading us to concerning homeschooling, I am reminded of His promise in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
He has great plans for our children.... after all, they were his first! Pray for us as we navigate this decision and pray that we will follow God's plans and not our own.
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